From now on everything we do will be free.
Everything we've made in the past is free as well.

Starting April 1st 2009, we'll be releasing 1 song each and every month on this site. At midnight on the 1st of the month. They'll all be in digital format only and completely free.

Please use the player on the right side of the page to stream our old stuff, or explore the albums to download either .zip-packages of entire albums or individual songs (click "Show tracks" from a given album).

That's it. We hope fans of physical records are not too disappointed. Those things just weren't making any more sense.

This way all the walls between us and you are down. No more waiting around. No more "promo period" or having to deal with distribution. Straight from our hearts to yours.

It's been well over 8 months now that I had to leave Viola behind to move to New York. During that time I haven't given much thought to the decade we spent making music to satisfy our personal cravings for all different shades of melancholy, stargazing and escapism.

But yesterday I somehow ended up giving some of our material a spin and had to come to the conclusion that once in a while we actually had a great thing going.

So I finally decided to do something I had though about dozens of times before: Compile a personal Best Of playlist and write up some of the things I feel very proud we were able to get on virtual tape. In no particular order.

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Lyrics

goodbye Violayou've had your timenow you must step asideso throw the last song into the nightand watch it flicker for a while

all of those old songswill they have a chanceout there in the cold worldif no one will watch their backsgood luck to all them little brats

goodbye Violaat least for nowcome visit us sometimeif you don't get buried so deep in the groundthat you'll never find your way out

you're almost done nowfading out of viewacross the oceanor maybe replaced by something newit's time to bid you adieu

so goodbye Violauntil the next timegoodbye Violarest now for a whileViola goodbye

all of those old songswell some weren't that badif they made someone happyor comforted someone sadso goodbye Violauntil the next timegoodbye Violarest now for a whilegoodbye Violagoodbye ViolaViola goodbye

We're going back in time this month. Way back into the vaults of Viola where we find this gem that has survived for 10+ years without getting captured on tape save for some live renditions.

Some long time Viola friends might remember this one: Saddened Yet Hopeful.

This is the second recorded proverbial fruit of the labour with the six most amazing viola players in Finland that helped us realize Heartstring Theory in June and gave us the most amazing night on Viola's Day 2011. The strings were arranged by Jussi Tuhkanen and played by Jussi, Atte Kilpeläinen, Pisku Ristiluoma, Lilli Maijala, Lotta Poijärvi and Martta Tolonen. Recorded by Ilai Rämä.

This month's track is way way different (even from the previous way way different ones) than any of our previous tracks. This one is just Riku singing with 6 of the most amazing viola-players in the WORLD. Now how cool is that?!

Ok, April is over and done with for one more year and it's time to get back into SERIOUS business. And that can only mean a track so heavily drenched in the 80s, you'll think we accelerated our Deloreans to 88mph!

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Lyrics

oh baby, break the news gentlybut don't break medon't want to cry again in front of them

she asked me if I'd go with you (I said "cool")he asked you if you'd go with me (you said "mmmm")at that lunch break I almost swoonedbut now it's come to this

oh baby, break the news gentlybut don't break medon't want to cry again in front of themoh baby, break the news gentlydon't ruin the night for meI already know but I won't let it show

they were playing our favourite song (forever young)and soda pop in my glass was warm (afri-cola)round and round the school gym we walkedyou didn't hold my hand

oh baby, break the news gentlybut don't break medon't want to cry again in front of them

baby, break the news gentlyit lasted barely for half a dayand we didn't get to dance or even swaybut when I'll see you on these same hallways every dayplease don't turn your face away in shamenow I know how Reddie Redford feelsin "Princess" by Bogart Co

oh baby, break the news gentlybut don't break medon't want to cry again in front of themoh baby, break the news gentlydon't ruin the night for meI already know but I won't let it show

Finland switched off Daylight Saving Time for 2010, so nights start really early again now. You all have a few months before winter snow falls and makes nights a bit lighter again, so there's no better time to gaze wistfully at stars and dream of Urania, the muse of astronomy.

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Lyrics

puppies in the rainthey'll steal your heart awayunder autumn's veilloppy ears and soggy tailsthey don't even know their namesor if they have yet anyif the coldest heart can breakit will break for them

for puppies in the rainoo-woah-woah-woah-woo-ohpuppies in the rainoo-woah-woah-woah-woo-oh

puppies in the rainwant to feel the warmth againand find the kindness that can save them

puppies in the rainlost on a strange terrainthey just want to playbut they'll need a safer placea warm lap and loving armsthat'll never let them downthe cold world makes us all barkbut we only want some love

like puppies in the rainoo-woah-woah-woah-woo-ohpuppies in the rainoo-woah-woah-woah-woo-ohpuppies in the rain

take them home and dry their hairtuck them in a warm blanketand they'll snuggle up to somebody who deserves it

puppies in the rainwant to feel the warmth againand find the kindness that can save them

we're puppies in the rainoo-woah-woah-woah-woo-ohpuppies in the rainoo-woah-woah-woah-woo-ohpuppies in the rainoo-woah-woah-woah-woo-ohpuppies in the rainoo-woah-woah-woah-woo-oh

August seems to be Finnish Indie Appreciation month here at Viola Music Club. Last year we did a cover of Tv-resistori and this year we're having a go at the brilliant Traitor On The Inside by Red Carpet.

Info

Music:

Riku Kärkkäinen / Tommi Forsström

Words:

Riku Kärkkäinen

Tempo:

180bpm

Lyrics

POPSICLE SUMMER

here it comespop pop pop pop pop popsicle summer

ooh I'm longing for another popsiclecos Finnish summer is so fickleevery spring at least will bring some new tastesall of which are not that greatbut there might be new candidates forpop pop pop pop pop popsicle summer

life has just beganand we discover that we're always youngwhen days are spent in such idle wayswe'd go so far for just a popsiclecos it's time for pop pop pop pop pop popsicle summer

life has just beganand we discover that we're always youngwhen days are spent in such idle wayswe'd go so far for just a popsiclecos it's time for pop pop pop pop pop popsicle summer

this is a tribute topop pop pop pop pop pop popsiclesof yesteryears that are now missingHandy with it's pointed fingerRoger Rabbit's jelly centerJenga was a long green spiralBatman, Pop Up, Rio ColaM.A.C. Black Orange, where did you vanishplease stay with me, at least you Pommac and Päärynä Lipsi!

cos it's summer and life has just beganand we discover that we're always youngwhen days are spent in such idle wayswe'd go so far for just a popsiclecos it's summer and life has just beganand we discover that we're always youngwhen days are spent in such idle wayswe'd go so far for just a popsiclecos it's time for pop pop pop pop pop popsicle summer

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Lyrics

I'm waiting for you outside the windowof an old grey house at the edge of the worldwhere the sea will rage if you step out the doorso you keep it shut tight and just climb the walls

leave it all againleave it all againstep right out into thin airand leave it all again

leave it all againleave it all againsomething new waits for you thereleave it all again

if you close your eyes you'll feel the wind at your heelsslowly rising fresh cool breezethat drifts into your house with whispers so sweet"leave it all again, leave it all again please"your daily bores and your nighttime scaresfixed points of view, routines that won't sparethe youth of your mind that's your own captive thereso leave it all again, leave it all again

what's outside the windowit's so hard to let goof the world we built and leave it all againwhat's outside the windowit's so hard to let goof the world we built and leave it all again

leave it all againleave it all againstep right out into thin air

leave it all againleave it all againsomething new waits for you there

leave it all againleave it all againstep right out into thin air

leave it all againleave it all againleave behind only trails to nowhere

what's outside the windowit's so hard to let goof the world we built and leave it all againwhat's outside the windowit's so hard to let goof the world we built and leave it all again

even when you're on the road or somewhere abroadyou still peek through the same windowleave it all again

what's outside the windowit's so hard to let goof the world we built and leave it all againwhat's outside the windowit's so hard to let goof the world we built and leave it all again

leave it all againbelieve it all againlearn to play in a new way

leave it all againbelieve it all againour little world is made of clay

Winter 2010 has been a pretty thorough one in Finland. Especially snow has been quite plentiful and has caused quite a bit of chaos in people's everyday lives, so we decided it deserved a song dedication from us, so we give you a piece of orchestral goodness: Fade To White.